Balance Station

ABSTRACT

A balance station for practicing balancing exercises made up of a platform, four legs, side rails, and a front rail. Different training exercises can be implemented by using different face plates for the base platform. The balance station provides a safe environment for stability challenge individuals to practice balance exercises.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

This application is a formal non-provisional utility application claiming priority to provisional application No. 63/277,604, filed on Nov. 9, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to elder care. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for safe performance of balance promoting exercises.

Falls are the leading cause of injury and death to the elderly. The two major approaches to fall prevention for seniors are (1) strength exercise and (2) balance training. Strength exercises for fall prevention are freely available for seniors online and through various organizations. In contrast, there is limited at home balance training available for seniors because of the risk of falling and incurring an injury. Balance training has historically been limited to physical therapy office using apparatus such as parallel bars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a balance station comprising a platform with raised handle bars on three sides. A sign is attached to the handle bars with instructions for various balance training exercise. A timer is also attached to the handle bars, which allows the user to time his or her exercise. Footprint outlines are included on the platform suggest the foot position the user should use while using the balance station.

Balance training is typically based on the time a person can hold a specific position. By using the foot prints and the timer, a user can measure his or her ability to maintain the specific positions.

The handlebars help prevent the user from falling, and/or helps mitigate possible injury caused by falling, if the user loses balance while using the balance station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the framework for a preferred implementation of the balance station of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is front elevational view of the balance station;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top view thereof; and

FIG. 5 are perspective views thereof;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims which may be drawn hereto.

Referring now to the figures, and to FIG. 1 in particular, the preferred implementation of a framework for the balance station 10 for safe performance of balance promoting exercises is shown to generally comprise a pair of side rails 14 and a front rail 16 supported atop a plurality of legs 18 projecting upwardly from a sturdy base platform 11. As shown in the figures, each leg 18 is securely attached to the top face 12 of the base platform 11 with, for example, anchors 19 fitted one each to the legs 18. The side rails 14, front rail 16 and legs 18, and any fittings therebetween, each comprise a strong material such as, for example, steel or the like. In this manner, the side rails 14 and front rail 16 provide a user of the balance station 10 with a pair of side handlebars 15 and a pair of front handlebar 17.

In one embodiment, the side handlebars 15 and front handlebar 17 are thirty-two inches above the base platform 11, which was calculated as providing sufficient fall prevention for the user. This height is further designed so that the handlebars 15 and 17 are similar in height to parallel bars found in physical therapy facilities.

The base platform 11 is flat and level with the ground. In one embodiment, the base platform 11 is raised four inches above the ground, forty inches in length, and thirty-two inches in width.

The base platform 11 comprises a removable balance training face 40. In one embodiment, the removable balance training face 40 is twenty inches in length and thirty-two inches in width. The removable balance training face 40 comprises indica of position 13. In one embodiment, the indica of position 13 are footprint outlines which provide a demonstrative guide to the user for placing his or her feet during balance training exercises.

The removeable balance training face 40 can be removed and replaced with other removable base faces 30, 35, 37. The removable faces 30, 35, 37, 40 are slid onto the base platform 11 via an opening 31 on the right side of the base platform 11. The removable base face 30, 35, 37, 40 is secured to the base platform via locks 32.

A placard support 20, which may preferably comprise a lightweight frame 23, constructed for example of PVC or the like, dependently supports a placard 21 which as will be understood is used to provide a user easily viewed instructions for use of the balance station 10. In one embodiment, the placard 21 is angled forty-five degrees away from the user.

The placard 21 provides instructions for exercise that directly correlate with the appropriate base 30, 35, 37, 40 being used. For example, if the user is using the numbered footprint base, the placard instructs the user where to place feet and hands according to the appropriate exercise, then it instructs the user to press the button and hover hands over the handlebars while attempting balancing exercise for the allotted time. There is a different sign with instructions for each different base insert to allow the user to practice a wide range of balance exercises.

Additionally, and as particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4 , a control support 24 is also provided and like the placard support 20 is also preferably constructed of PVC or a like lightweight material, and which in the preferred embodiment is provided as a pair of upwardly projecting arms 25.

The control support 24 dependently supports a control panel 26, on which is mounted a start button 27 and, most preferably, a “dead man's” type safety switch 29, which is in communication with an alarming device. In the event of a fall by a user in use of the balance station 10, the safety switch 29 is operable through tug on a connected lanyard 29 and wrist band, waist band, or the like to sound an appropriate alarm for summoning help. A timer 28, activated by the start button 27, ensures that the user performs each exercise for an appropriately long, but not excessive time period in order to obtain optimal benefit.

In one embodiment, the balance station 10 has a first timer button 32 and a second timer button 33. The first timer button 32 is preset to start the timer 28 for a thirty-second interval, ending with a loud beep. The second timer button 33 is preset to start the timer 28 for a sixty-second interval, ending with a loud beep. In one embodiment, the timer 28 counts up in one second intervals starting at zero.

As also shown in the figures, indicia of position 13 are provided on the top face 12 of the base platform 11, to indicated to the user where to place his or her feet during each exercise. Indicia of identification 22, corresponding to the indicia of position 13 provided on and in connection with the top face 12 of the base platform 11, are provided as part of the instructions presented on the placard 21.

In use, the user steps onto the base platform 11, using the side handlebars 15 and front handlebar 17 as necessary to maintain stability while stepping onto the balance station 10. The user views the indica of identification 22 provided on the placard 21. The indica of identification 22 include, but is not limited to, suggested foot positions for different balance training exercises. The user places his or her feet on the indica of position 13 that correspond to the indica of identification 22 selected by the user. The indica of identification 13 include, but is not limited to, outlines of foot positions, activates the countdown timer 28 and holds the exercise until the timer reaches zero.

The balance station 10 can be combined with several attachments 34 that can be used for specific exercises related to balancing. The following paragraphs attachments 34 that can be combined with the balance station 10.

The basic base 35 comprises six oval shapes 36 that are numbered with ovals numbered one being the foot placement for a shoulder width stance by the user while balancing. Ovals numbered two are between the ovals numbered one and signify foot placement for exercise two with the feet being placed together while balancing. Ovals numbered three are placed above and below the ovals numbered two. Ovals numbered three represent the users foot placement while performing exercise three. This design for foot placement is directly derived from widely accepted physical therapy practice. The first exercise is a wide stance, the second a narrow stance, the third with dominant forward then non-dominant foot forward and for exercise four, standing on oval numbered two and lifting one foot off the ground while balancing.

The pad base insert 37 provides a balance pad used in physical therapy and performance training that provides an intentionally unstable surface for the user. The pad is imbedded into the base insert. In one embodiment, the pad is fifteen inches wide, twelve and a half inches in length and two and a half inches thick and protrudes from the surface of the base ⅛th of an inch.

The exercises instructed for pad 37 use are more difficult than the original base due to the unstable surface. The first exercise for the pad is standing with feet together. The second exercise is to lift each foot alternately. The Third is lifting each leg alternately out laterally.

Base hoops 38 are part of the pad 37 balancer and provide four hoops outside each corner of the pad. These are for connecting resistance bands to the base of the device for more advance exercises with the use of additional accessories.

The squat bar 39 is a lightweight and padded aluminum bar with resistance bands attached at both ends. The resistance bands each have a connector such as a carabiner for securing the squat bar to the base. On the pad base instructions, the user is to place the bar across the top of their shoulder blades, hold on to the front handlebar and squat down while feet are in a wide stance. Different resistance bands for more or less resistance will be available for order.

Dumbbell Bands—These are 2 resistance bands with handles at one end and a carabiner at the other. The bands are secured to the base and used as dumbbells would be used for exercises like curls and shoulder press. Different resistance weight bands will be available for order

Ring Toss—This attachment is 2 separate 4 inch poles that attach to the handlebars and a rubber ring that fits loosely around a pole. The poles are attached on opposite sides of the balancer. The objective is to transfer the ring from one pole to the other while only using 1 arm. This allows the user to practice balancing while turning their torso from one side to the other. This exercise is to be done with both upper extremities for balance and coordination

Step Ladder—This attachment is a small ladder that attaches to the 2 vertical front bars via 4 clamps. It is 18 inches in height and 28 inches wide. The user attempts to raise 1 foot at a time to each level of the ladder while maintaining balance with the other foot. The ladder rungs are at 4 inches, 8 inches and 12 inches high

Vision Sticks—These are 2 adjustable thick wires that have clamps at one end and large colored circles at the other end. They are 32 inches in length and are used during balance exercises when the user looks to the left and right while balancing. They are placed on both side rails and can be adjusted according to the neck mobility of the user. This allows the user to focus on a single point for more successful balancing. This is an advance balancing exercises widely used and accepted by physical therapy practice.

A Hand Sanitizer Holder—Is a cupholder attached to a clamp for placement on the Balancer for infection control implementation. A bottle of hand sanitizer can be placed in the cup. Hand Sanitizer is not provided by Senior Start

While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description and the accompanying drawings. In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims that may be drawn hereto. 

I claim:
 1. A balance station comprising a pair of side rails and a front rail supported atop a plurality of legs projecting upwardly from a base platform. As shown in the figures, each leg 18 is securely attached to the top face 12 of the base platform 11 with, for example, anchors 19 fitted one each to the legs
 18. 2. The balance station of claim 1 wherein the base platform further comprises a removable balance training face having footprint outlines indicating position for a user's feet. 